Electric shut-off cock.



- M. H. TRACY. ELECTRIC SHUT-OFF COCK.

APPLIGATIONQPILED APR.28 1911. 1,085,646.

' Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Minesses I V fnvcnzor 67 flab/1w! h. #0105;-

arm 89 M. H. TRACY. BLEGTRIG SHUT-OFF 600K.

I 7 APPLICATION FILED APR. 2B; 1911- 1,085,6460 I Patented Feb 3,1914.

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M. H. TRACY. ELECTRIC SHUT-0FF 000K. APPLICATION FILED APR 28 1911 Patented Feb. 3, 1914:.

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7 Wiring connecting this mechanism with a diflicult for anyone not familiarwith the wiring by the operator and the supply of same may be readily modified by anyone MICHAEL H. TRACY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC SHUT-OFF COCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

Application filed aprnzs, 1911. Serial No. 623,940.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, MICHAEL H. TRACY, a. citizen ,of the United States, residing at lVorcester, in the county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented a. certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Shut-Off Cocks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to shut-0E cocks but more particularly to mechanisms adapted to permit the operation of these cocks at a considerable distance from the same.

Particularly in case of fire, it is often important to shut off the supply of gas from a building but the usual location of the shut-off cock in the basement makes it very premises to find'the same. Manually operated cocks on the main supply pipe exterior to the building have heretofore sometimes been installed but these must necessarily be located on the line of the pipe which may enter the building at any point and frequently it is impossible to have them placed on old pipes as the same were never located with any such idea in view.

The object of the present invention is to permit the shutting off of the gas supply in any building from a controlling point located within or without the building irrespective of the location of the gas supply.

ipe. p This invention comprises an electrically operated mechanism connected to the gas shut-off cock on the main supply pipe and control point suitably located, The electricity can be furnished by batteries or a magneto permanently connectedto the Wiring but the former method is not considered advisable as such batteries are not dependable and the device might be inoperative at the time when it was most needed.

The device is preferably constructed with means at the control point whereby a portable magneto box or other source of electrical supply may be quickly connected to the gas shut ofl' from the building. This control point should preferably be upon the outside of the building.

In the embodiment which will be described hereinafter the device has been particularly adapted for fire purposes but the bells. About this skilled in the art for use in connection with any fluid conducting pipes and with either permanent or portable sources of electrical supply.

' One embodiment is shown in the drawings in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view of the invention complete. Fig. 2, section on line 2-2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3, section 011 line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, inside View of cover, as will be described hereinafter. Fig. 5, section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6, section on line 6-6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7, front elevation of easing with the cover removed as will be described hereinafter. Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11, detailed views of portions of the device for controlling the operation of the shut-off mechanism,- as will be fully de-- of the shut-off cock 23. Upon the outer end of the shut-off cock is the stem 24 upon the end of which is formed acup shaped cover 25 which is also concentric with the axis of the shut-ofi cock and the annular flange 26 is adapted to envelop a portion of the outer wall of the cup shaped member 23. In the chamber 27 in the cup shaped member 23 is located a spring 28 of the type usually found in clock mechanisms. One end of this spring is secured to the cup shaped member orv portion of the easing 23 and the other extremity passes through the slot 29 in the stem 24 of the cock 23 so that, when the cock is released, as will be described hereinafter, the cover member 25 and the cock will be rotated in the direction of the arrows shown in Figs. 5

and 7.

From the inner face of the cover member 25 project inwardly the flanges or shelves 30 on each of which are secured magnet spools 31 of wire such as are found in all the ordinary types of electro-magnets. From this inner face also extends another flange 32 through an orifice in which passes the post 33 provided at its upper end with a cross bar 34 such as is found in electric 35 between the un' or face of which and the 0st 33 is secured a collar shaft operates a spring 36 which yieldingly holds the cross bar 34 away from the magnet face on the spools 31. Extending upwardly from the bar 34 is a projection or catch which is adapted to act against the lug 38 on the inner face of the casing 23. On the inner wall of the casing is a similar lug 39 which is adapted to contact on its front face with a. lug 40 on the inner face of the cover plate 25. The operating face of this lug 40 on the cover is preferably set a quarter turn away from the working face of the catch 37 and the face of the lug 39 which is adapted to act against the face of the lug 40 to limit the travel of the cock is preferably set a quarter of a turn beyond the normal position of the face of the In 40 and it would thus be a half turn away rom the face of the catch 37. i

At the point of control which may be at any distance from the shut-off cock is placed a control box 41 which is adapted to be set 4 into a wall with the plate '42 resting against the face of the wall. Through this plate are four apertures 43, 44, 45 and 46, as is best shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, and opposite to these apertures are the terminal posts 47, 48, 49 and 50 respectively. To the terminal posts 47 and 48 are secured the extremities of the wires forming the circuit 51 which carry the current adapted to cause the magnet spools to draw downward the bar 34 and release the catch 37 from the lug 38. To the posts 49 and 50 are secured the extremities of the wires forming the circuit 52, one of the opposite ends of the wires being connected to the lug 39 and the other to the lug 40 so that, even when the posts 49 and 50 are electrically joined, as will be described hereinafter, the circuit is not complete until the lug 40 moves into contact with the lug 39.

In the form of the device in which the source of electrical supply is carried by the operator the latter is provided with a port-' able magneto box 53 into which enter the wires which are connected to the magneto and which are adapted to complete the circuits 51 and 52. These wires are shown as inclosed in a cable 54 having at its other extremity a plate 55. shown in Figs. 10 and 11 provided with plugs 56, 57, 58 and 59 which are respectively adapted to be pressed intothe apertures 43, 44, 45 and 46 in the plate 42 to connect the circuits 51 and 52.

Having its mechanism within the magneto box or otherwise suitably located thereon and having the bell upon the outside of said box, is an electrical bell of the ordinary type in use and this bell is connected to the circuit 52 for reasons which will be stated in connection with the description of the operation of the device hereinafter. This portable construction for the controlling of the mechanism connected to the shut-off cock, is of a type which is particularly adapted for use in case of fire and the ob ect of making the source of electrical supply portable is that a single ma neto box may be carried by the firemen an used at each building fitted with the device, making it unnecessary for each building to be supplied with one.

The operation of the device is as followsz -Vvhen it is desirable to close the shut-off cock, the plate 55 connected by the cable 54 to the magneto box 53 is placed in netizin thespools 31, and releasing the catch 3% from the lug 38. As soon as this catch is released, the spring 28 causes the cock to revolve in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 5 carrying with it the cover 25 on which is the lug 40. As soon as this lug 40 comes in contact with the lug 39, the cock will be prevented from further revolving and this contact will complete the circuit 52, causing the bell in the magneto box to ring and thus notify the operator that the cock has shut off the passage of gas in the supply pipe.

- After the device has been operated to shut off the gas, the mechanism connected to the cock can be returned to its normal position and the passage in the pipe opened by turning the cover against the action of the spring until the catch 37 snaps into place in rear of the lug 38. To facilitate this resetting of the device, the outer Walls of the cover may be milled, as is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, a fluid supply pipe, ashut-offcock in said pipe; a casing connected to said pipe, a spring acting between said casing and said cock to operate said cock. a cover member secured to said cock, a catch movably mounted on said member and adapted to engage an opposing projection on said casing to normally retain said cock in a position to permit the passage of fluid through said pipe;

and electro-magnets mounted on said member adapted to move said catch to release said cock.

2. In a device of the class described, a fluid supply plpe, a shut-off cock in said pipe; a casing connected to said pipe; a

spring acting between said casing and said cock to operate said cock; a member fixedly mounted on said cook, a spring controlled catch slidably mounted on said member and fluid supply pipe; a shut-oil cock in said pipe; a casing connected to said pipe; a spring acting between said casing and said cock to operate said, cook; a member fixedly mounted on said cock; a spring controlled catch slidably mounted on said member and adapted to engage an opposing projection 'on said casing to normally retain said cock in a position to permit the passage of fluid through said pipe; electro-magnets mounted on said member adapted to release said catch and permit the operation of said cock; means for controlling the operation of said magnets; and analarm adapted to operate upon the completion of the closing operation of said cock.

e. 'In a device of the class described, a

fluid supply pipe; a rotatable shut-oil cock in said pipe; a casing connected to said pipe; a spring acting between said caslng and-said cock to rotate said cock; a cover member fixedly mounted on said cock; a

' catch siidably mounted on said member and adapted to engage anv opposing projection on said casing to normally retain said cock in a position to permit the passage of fluid through said pipe; electro-magnets mounted on said member adapted to release said catch and permit the rotation of said cock; means for controlling the operation of said magnets; and an electric alarm adapted to operate upon the completion of the closing operation of said cock.

5. In a device of the class described, a fluid supply pipe; a rotatable shut-0E cock in said pipe; a spring acting between said casing and said cock to rotate said cook; a

cover member fitting over the open face of said casing and fixedly mounted on the stem of said cook; a catch slidably mounted on said member and adapted to engage an opposing projection on said casing to normally retain said cock in a position topermit the passage of fluid through said pipe; electro-magnet-s mounted on said member adapted to release said catch and permit the rotation of said cock; means for controlling the operation of said magnets, a lug on said casing for limiting the travel of said cock, and an electric alarm adapted to be operated by the contact of a portion of said cock with said lug.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARTLEY W. BAR'ILETT, EMMA E. GALE. 

